Monday, 8 August 2011

ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA ADVISES ALL POLITICAL PARTIES PARTICIPATING IN THIS YEAR’S GENERAL ELECTIONS TO CONDUCT THEIR CAMPAIGNS IN A PEACEFUL MANNER AND STRICTLY ADHERE TO THE NEW ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT

THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA HAS ADVISED ALL POLITICAL PARTIES PARTICIPATING IN THIS YEAR’S GENERAL ELECTIONS TO CONDUCT THEIR CAMPAIGNS IN A PEACEFUL MANNER AND STRICTLY ADHERE TO THE NEW ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT.

ACCORDING TO A PRESS STATEMENT AVAILED TO RADIO PHOENIX BY ECZ PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER CHRIS AKUFUNA THE COMMISSION HAS STATED THAT THE POLITICAL PARTIES MUST HOLD THEIR PUBLIC MEETINGS IN COMPLIANCE WITH ESTABLISHED LAWS AND ALL AGENTS SHOULD DESIST FROM ENGAGING IN CORRUPTION AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES.

THE COMMISSION HAS ENCOURAGED ALL POLITICAL PARTIES TO SUBMIT THEIR TIMETABLE FOR CAMPAIGN RALLIES TO THE COMMISSION AND THE POLICE.

IT HAS WARNED THAT ALL CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL PARTIES SHOULD DESIST FROM USING GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT AND FACILITIES DURING THEIR CAMPAIGNS, EXCEPT FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT.

THE COMMISSION SAYS ANY AGGRIEVED PARTY SHOULD DIRECT HIS OR HER COMPLAINT IN WRITING TO THE DISTRICT CONFLICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS THROUGH THE TOWN CLERK OR COUNCIL SECRETARY WHO IS THE DISTRICT ELECTORAL OFFICER.

THE COMMISSION HAS ADDED THAT ANY PERSON NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DECISION OF THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE MAY APPEAL TO THE NATIONAL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IN LUSAKA, THROUGH THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION.

IT HAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT ACCREDITATION FOR INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS WILL BE DONE IN LUSAKA AT THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION HEADQUARTERS FROM 2ND AUGUST TO 16TH SEPTEMBER 2011 AND THIS SHOULD COVER LETTER INDICATING FULL NAMES AND PASSPORT NUMBERS OF INTENDED OBSERVERS WHICH SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR AT THE COMMISSION.

MEANWHILE THE COMMISSION HAS STATED THAT ACCREDITATION FOR LOCAL MONITORS AND THE MEDIA WILL BE DONE FROM 3RD AUGUST TO 16TH SEPTEMBER AT THE DISTRICT COUNCIL ADDING THAT ELECTION AGENTS WILL ALSO BE ACCREDITED AT DISTRICT COUNCIL FROM 8TH AUGUST TO 16TH SEPTEMBER.

IT HAS CALLED ON THE MEDIA TO GIVE FAIR AND BALANCED COVERAGE AND EQUAL COVERAGE AND ACCESS TO ALL CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL PARTIES TAKING PART IN THE POLLS.